Nobela ni Athisarae

The black car cruised smoothly through the city. Morning light poured in through the windows, but the air inside was far from warm.Lucian sat by the window, arms folded, gaze unmoving. Damien sat beside him, one leg crossed, glancing every now and then like he was deciding whether to poke a sleeping bear.Eventually, Damien broke the silence."So... breakfast with the family. Can’t remember the last time we all did that. I think Sebastian was still pretending to be a vegetarian back then."Lucian didn’t laugh. He didn’t even blink.Unbothered, Damien kept going. "You know, you’ve always had this... very specific talent for making a room go silent without saying a word. It's impressive. Terrifying, but impressive."Lucian said nothing.Damien sighed, drumming his fingers lightly on his knee. "Look, I’m not trying to be annoying. I just figured maybe this time we could talk like brothers instead of... I don’t know, cold war diplomats."Lucian finally turned to face him, brows slightl

Cecilia Valemont had always moved with grace. To the world, she was a composed and luminous presence. Something unshakable. But even marble cracks. A rare autoimmune condition. Chronic but manageable. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, is how they called it, and Eleanor remembered the outcome. It weakened the immune system of her mother to the point that even a mild infection could become dangerous. In time, it attacked Cecilia’s organs. Cecilia had passed not from a violent cause, but a quiet, persistent one.This time, they caught it early. Her sudden collapse triggered an aggressive battery of tests, and thanks to that, she had a chance.“She’s going to need consistent treatment,” the doctor had told them. “Close monitoring, medication to control flare-ups, and a strict diet. Possibly surgery if there’s organ damage, but we’ll know more once she stabilizes. The most important thing is that you brought her in before it progressed any further.”The next morning, sunlight poured gently i

The hospital felt like it was holding its breath. Every second passed with the weight of a minute. Eleanor sat beside her father in the sterile waiting room, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The buzzing of the overhead lights and the faint beeping from distant monitors did little to ease her nerves. Her father didn't say much, but he didn't leave her side either. Nearly an hour passed, but to Eleanor it felt like a lifetime. Her legs ached from sitting too long, and her mind, already raw, started to spin again with guilt and worry.“I just need some air,” she whispered as she stood.Leon glanced at her. His expression was weary, but he gave her a faint nod. He didn’t ask questions. He seemed to understand.Eleanor slipped away, her heels tapping softly on the tiled floor as she walked down the quiet hallway. The fluorescent lights above flickered faintly, humming with electricity. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. She wrapped her arms around herself.But as she tu

It all happened so fast, and yet, to Eleanor, time stretched cruelly slow.“Mom… Mom!”The words slipped out in a strangled whisper, barely audible, as Eleanor’s knees buckled. She dropped beside Cecilia. Eleanor’s trembling fingers hovered on her mother’s unconscious body.Cecilia’s skin was clammy and her breath was shallow. Her eyes, usually so alert and full of restrained warmth, were fluttering half-shut.A jolt of panic coursed through Eleanor's body.“No. No, no, no… Not again.”Memories broke through her mind like splintering glass. The hushed doctor’s tone. The quiet funeral. The bitter smell of lilies in the cold air. Her father standing in silence, unable to look at anyone, and her mother… inside a coffin.Eleanor remembered it all now. A sob tore from her chest, but before she could speak again, the room tilted. Her vision narrowed into darkness, and everything slipped away.Lucian had been trying to free himself from Jane’s eager grip when he heard a thud. His eyes widen

Eleanor woke up feeling lighter than she had in ages. Sunlight streamed into her room, warm and soft. She touched the smooth, cool emerald necklace at her throat, and a small smile played on her lips as she thought of Lucian. Everything's finally going her way."This is it," she murmured to herself. "I've really changed my fate."Lucian's her fiancé now. No more running, no more pretending. Just a straight path forward with someone she was truly starting to care for.Hours later, Eleanor came down the grand staircase, ready for the evening’s gala. Her sapphire blue gown shimmered with a stark contrast to the soft, ruffled dresses she used to wear. Her father, Leon, waited in the foyer. Her mother, Cecilia, looked elegant in pale silk. Even Jane, somehow, had gotten an invite, looking modest in soft pink.The car ride to the gala felt endless. Jane, sitting across from Eleanor, talked nonstop."Oh, Lady Eleanor, this place is just lovely! Do you think Damien and Sebastian will show up?

The clinking of silverware filled the elegant dining room inside the Valemonts’ estate. Eleanor sat beside Lucian, her posture poised, but her heart was unusually light. Across from them were her parents, Leon and Cecilia, who were enjoying their meal quietly.But Eleanor noticed something. Her mother, Cecilia, kept glancing at Lucian. Not in the suspicious, disapproving way Eleanor had feared, but almost in awe. Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying his face like she was trying to remember something. Then, with the subtlest lift of her brow, Cecilia looked away, lips barely curving upward with amazement. Eleanor hid her smile behind her wine glass. Lucian’s transformation clearly wasn’t lost on anyone. Not even her mother, who was very picky when it came to physical looks.Moments later, Jane stepped in, pushing the serving cart toward the table. “The dessert is ready,” Jane said softly. Her eyes landed on Lucian and she froze. Jane nearly forgot to serve the plate in front of Ceci